Carnation plant named ‘CFPC Aztec’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Aztec’ having large distinctive light orange flowers with occasional pink pencil marks along the petals and on the tips of the petals.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPC Aztec’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘CFPC Aztec’.

‘CFPC Aztec’, identified as selection no. 020254, originated from a cross made by Roy Stahlhut in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif.

The female parent of the new variety is the unpatented variety known as ‘CFPC Invitation’ and the male parent is the unpatented variety known as selection no. 000271. The new variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Aztec’ is a potted spray-type of carnation plant variety having distinctive light orange flowers with occasional pink pencil marks along the petals and on the tips of the petals.

COMPARISON WITH FEMALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ are similar to the female parent ‘CFPC Invitation’ in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ differed from plants of the female parent ‘CFPC Invitation’ in at least the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ produces light orange flowers         with occasional pink pencil markings whereas the female parent         ‘CFPC Invitation’ produces yellow flowers.

COMPARISON WITH MALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ are similar to the male parent selection no. 000271 in plant habit and growth rate, but differed from plants of the male parent in at least the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ produces light orange flowers         with occasional pink pencil markings while the male parent         selection no. 000271 produces light red flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 119 days from date of planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Aztec’ is of plants 119 days from the date of planting grown in a commercial greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. in the month of December. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C. during the day under light conditions of about 12 hours. Plants are daylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growth regulators are not required for production.

The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Pinched plants are about 19.1 cm tall and about 17.8 cm in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 4.8 cm with a crown of about 2.2 cm. Foliage is generally about 10 cm long and about 0.9 cm at the widest point. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4½ inches. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with the first appearance of color in the buds occurring at about 100-110 days after planting of cuttings. The commercial classification of the new carnation variety is a potted spray-type.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a potted spray-type. The plant and flower measurements and foliage size are established as an average using standard commercial cultural practices. In the description of this new carnation variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

-   Height (cm): 19.1. -   Form: Herbaceous. -   Growing habit: Semi-upright. -   Branching characteristics: 2-3 laterals per stem. -   Breaking action: Very good: 5-6 breaks per plant with strong     straight stems. -   First appearance of color in buds: 100-110 days after planting. -   Vigor: Excellent. -   Shelf life: 21 days. -   Blooming habit: Spray type. -   Blooming season: Year round. -   Lastingness of blooms: about 10 days. -   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): Good resistance to     soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. graminearium,     and root rots such as damping off, water molds and similar types, as     is typical of carnations. -   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed. -   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None     observed. -   Mutation prone: No. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Side shoot cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—19 days with soil temperatures of 18° C. to             21° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Good fibrous system. -   Growth treatments or special conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Stem:     -   -   Diameter.—Base (cm): 0.6. Apex (cm): 0.2.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Cross section.—Edged.         -   Color.—Internode: 137C (after removal of wax). Node: 145D. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 18-20. -   Arrangement of leaves: Bi-lateral along the stem.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Long, narrow, lanceolate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 0.9. Length (cm): 10.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Edge.—Smooth.         -   Surface texture.—Top: smooth. Bottom: smooth. -   Leaf venation: Prominent mid-vein at underside. -   Leaf longitudinal axis: Recurved. -   Leaf cross section (upper side): Weakly concave. -   Leaf color: Mature leaf, upper side: 137A. Under side: 137B. -   Leaf waxy layer: Medium.

FLOWER

-   Flower appearance: Matte. -   Flower type: Double. -   Flower profile of upper part of corolla: Convex. -   Flower profile of lower part of corolla: Concave. -   Flower shape: Dome shaped, round. -   Number of blooms per branch: 10-12.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—2.2.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—4.8. -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepals number.—5.         -   Length (cm).—0.6.         -   Width (cm).—0.6.         -   Color.—Outer side: middle to tip: 143B. Base: 145A. Inner             side: 148D.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Form/shape.—Fan shaped.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Petal surface of blade.—Slight undulating.         -   Number per flower.—30.         -   Outer petals.—Length (cm): 4.6. Width (cm): 3.0.         -   Inner petals.—Length (cm): 4.0. Width (cm): 2.0. -   Fragrance: None to faint. -   Flower bud (at onset of color):     -   -   Length (cm):—2.8.         -   Diameter (cm).—1.1.         -   Form/shape.—Ovoid. -   Flower color:     -   -   1. General tonality.—Light orange with occasional pink             pencil marks along petals and tips of petals.         -   2. Petals, upper surface.—19B.         -   3. Petals, lower surface.—18B.         -   4. Petals, edge.—19B.         -   5. Petals, center.—19D.         -   6. Pencil marks.—62A.         -   6. Early bud.—19B. -   Color distribution: Striated. -   Flower progression with age: Color transitions to a lighter golden     yellow (18B) from initial orange (19B) color.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium: Pistillate.     -   -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length (cm).—2.9.         -   Pistil color.—Whiter than 155D (with red flush).         -   Stigma number.—Only 3.         -   Stigma color.—Whiter than 155D.         -   Stigma shape.—Filamentous.         -   Style color.—Whiter than 155D.         -   Style number.—Only 3. -   Ovary:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Base: 157B. Body: 145A. Apex: 145A. -   Androecium: None produced. -   Fruit and seeds: None produced. 

1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 